Parking Meters Near Oceanwalk To Be Installed

March 17, 1988|By TODD NELSON, Staff Writer

HOLLYWOOD -- Parking meters will be installed on side streets near Oceanwalk to relieve the beachfront parking crunch that has worsened since the shopping complex opened last month, city commissioners decided on Wednesday.

Owners of small motels, who complained that Oceanwalk employees were taking up free side street parking spaces that their guests needed, will be able to buy permits that will allow guests to park free at the meters.

``We don`t profess that this is the ideal solution,`` City Manager James Chandler said. ``We`re looking at this as much as anything as a stopgap measure. Whatever we do at the present time is only going to be temporary.``

City officials said they would continue to negotiate with officials of Oceanwalk, at Hollywood Boulevard and State Road A1A, to find parking elsewhere for the 200 to 300 employees who work at the shopping center.

The city has applied for a state grant to hire a parking consultant to study beachfront parking and traffic flow, but officials have said permanent improvements are at least a year away.

A total of 252 meters will be installed from Polk to New York streets north of Oceanwalk and from Van Buren to Jackson streets to the south within 30 days, Parking Administrator Ken Abruzzini said.

Suzanne Gunzburger was the only city commissioner to vote against the plan after 90 minutes of discussion by city officials, motel operators and beachfront residents.

Gunzburger said putting meters on a limited number of streets would only push the problem to streets further from Oceanwalk, where free parking would remain.

Her motion to install parking meters on all side streets between Garfield Street and a public parking lot at the Summit condominium complex, 1201 S. Ocean Drive, failed by a 4-1 vote.